1 Reply by NaKuShItA (edited by NaKuShItA 04-Apr-2012 09:55:30)

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

Hi.

I was wondering if this game happens to have any IT Specialist playing this game and that might give me a few pointers towards building my own Windows 7 image.

Let me tell you what i want to do.

The idea is that everything is fully automated once i plug in my USB stick with my own Windows 7 image into my or someone else his computer from installing windows to installing drivers, programs and settings fully configured for all the programs that i got on this image.

I have been struggling to understand this process however.

A colleague of mine said that all of this is possible. The way he did it was to install Windows and install any programs and drivers and configure and than capture this image with Imagex.exe

I got a Windows 7 PDF file who also explains this process but in a very confusing way and when i perform the steps it doesn't seem to work for me.

From what i have been able to understand from the Windows 7 PDF file (MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-680) Configuring Windows 7.pdf) is that several things are needed but i can't can not find the basic information that i need to simplify this for me. I need a person telling me in clear and simple language what what does.

Terms such as:
Answer file - In here you provide the answer for your install.wim

WinPE - Not really sure what this does

Audit mode - Not really sure what this does - i thought i had to install programs in this mode and than capture the image but it didn't work.

OOBE mode - normal windows mode, can you capture a image from this mode?

Imagex.exe - Capture a image of the Windows machine

Dism.exe - read about this but i can't get it to work and a bit unsure what its for.

Packaging software - No idea how to do this. Is this needed to for the image? 


Is there anyone out there that can explain these terms and any other things that are needed for this process in clear and simple language? 

Can you than make a list from lets say 1 to 10 what needs to be done first.
Example:
1: Install Windows AIK tools
2: Install windows 7 on Virtual Machine
3: Install programs
4: capture image
5: make answer file
6 etc etc


Thanks in advanced.
Please dont spam this with bullshit.

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  • Icer
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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

Just set up Windows 7 the way you want and use Clonezilla; WinPE and stuff is way above what you want here.

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

I forgot to mention that i am learning this because i want to complete the Windows 7 course and Exam. I need to know this kind of stuff the way Microsoft wants it.

Clonezilla however might be nice for the idea but ain't what i'm looking for.

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

As indicated by Icer there are easier clone programs out there.

Some free (trialware or personal use only) and some that will cost ya.


Norton had a good one back in 2001, I forget the name though.

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

Norton Ghost, iirc. It costs money sad

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

Yeah Norton Ghost... and it was really good!

Everything bad in the economy is now Obama's fault. Every job lost, all the debt, all the lost retirement funds. All Obama. Are you happy now? We all get to blame Obama!
Kemp currently not being responded to until he makes CONCISE posts.
Avogardo and Noir ignored by me for life so people know why I do not respond to them. (Informational)

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

I've used Macrium Reflect before and seemed to work pretty well and it's free.

@NaKuShItA: I setup a windows 7 image with all the drivers and settings and then i used the OOBE and had it turn off when it was done. Before i turned it back on or it restarted i took the hard drive out and hooked it to my external USB and navigated to the folder that had the .wim file in it and copied it. I replaced the .wim that was on the install disk of Windows 7 with the new one i made. It worked well enough but it wasn't fully automated.

I could never get the answer file to work with the install and when i used the WAIK to make the boot iso i don't think the image capture ever worked right.

I used the way i did it on 1800ish HP Mini laptops. Wasn't bad but it didn't have the updates and the video driver wouldn't load on startup. Had to go to the folder it was in and run it again.

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8 Reply by Icer (edited by Icer 04-Apr-2012 15:56:43)

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

I haven't had to do this at work for aaaages but basically:



a) Prepare vm with all Windows updates and programs you want installed
b) sysprep/oobe
c) shutdown to capture with imagex
d) Put wim in WDS
e) make answerfile with WAIK, host with WDS



Maybe this would be more help: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/deploying-windows-7

"This track provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to each step in the Windows 7 deployment process from application compatibility testing and volume activation to image creation and data migration.



By the end of the track, you will have gained an understanding of the tools, processes, and best practices that will help make your Windows 7 deployment a success."

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Re: Building a Windows 7 image

@Icer
If i understand you correctly.


a) Prepare vm with all Windows updates and programs you want installed
Install windows, and boot to normal windows (OOBE) install and configure everything.

b) sysprep/oobe
Sysprek your OOBE that you just created. Is that possible in OOBE Windows mode or do you have to boot in Audit mode.

c) shutdown to capture with imagex
Boot into Imagex and capture your .Wimfile

d) Put wim in WDS
Windows Deployment Services not sure what it does so i have to read up on it. Can't find it in the Aik tool.

e) make answerfile with WAIK, host with WDS
You make the answerfile after you made your own image? - WDS sounds like a server, i dont have a server. I want to plug in my USB stick and let it do all the work for me.

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